Worldwide Beekeeping

Beekeeping => Pests and Diseases => Topic started by: rcannon on July 13, 2015, 08:49:03 pm

Title: Beetle trap
Post by: rcannon on July 13, 2015, 08:49:03 pm

I have a hive that's been plagued with hive beetles. It's the strangest thing, the hive is real strong and in almost full sun. I've not seen any larvae, just adults on the underside of the lid. I mash 20-30 of them every time I pop the lid.
So, I took a couple of pieces of corrugated cardboard and laid it across the top bars, to see if the beetles would hide in it. Then I forgot about it, until today.
The bees had propolized every hole shut. I gently scraped them off today and broke them open, near a fire i had built to burn a limb that blowed down.  Those thing were full of beetles, trapped in there by the bees. There must have been 50 or so. I went thru the hive and didn't see a single beetle. It'll be interesting to see if they come back, in the numbers I've seen. If they do, I'll try more cardboard. It sure seems to have worked this time.

Title: Re: Beetle trap
Post by: iddee on July 13, 2015, 09:19:12 pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_KDPp8H6PU

Title: Re: Beetle trap
Post by: Bakersdozen on July 14, 2015, 06:08:22 am

That's great to know that cardboard alone worked.  No need for chemicals.  Thanks for posting rcannon.

Title: Re: Beetle trap
Post by: tbonekel on July 14, 2015, 08:40:54 am

I will remember that tip. Thanks!

Title: Re: Beetle trap
Post by: rcannon on July 15, 2015, 08:28:45 pm

I had seen the video of the Fat Bee Man using the signboard and boric acid, that's where I got the idea. I just can't bring myself to put boric acid in a hive. It wouldn't take but a little of that stuff to get scattered around to kill a hive. I'm not sure that it would get out of the signboard, but I know how my luck runs.